Letter to Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Ellen Terpstra

May 20, 2003

The Honorable Ellen Terpstra
Administrator
Foreign Agricultural Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Room 5071-S
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Administrator Terpstra:

The American Soybean Association (ASA) recently led a soybean study mission to Brazil. The purpose of the trip was to assess Brazil's soybean production, existing and potential infrastructure and transportation issues, processing capacity, and intellectual property rights, as well as to educate the trip's participants on these issues.

Brazil's potential for soybean production is a matter of great interest to American soybean producers. During the last five years, Brazil has increased its production of soybeans by 57 percent. The Economic Research Service (ERS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that Brazil has the potential to bring more new ground into production in coming years than is currently used in production in the United States.

I have attached a list of questions generated by ASA participants through their observations in Brazil. I request that you work with your colleagues from the ERS, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Subsidies Enforcement Office of the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration to provide answers to these questions.
Given the importance of soybeans to Iowa and other states, I look forward to your timely response.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator

cc: The Honorable Robert Zoellick
U.S. Trade Representative
The Honorable Susan Offutt
Administrator, Economic Research Service

The Honorable Grant Aldonas
Under Secretary for International Trade
Department of Commerce